AOA News

AOA doctor and student advocates work hard to ensure their U.S. House and Senate leaders understand optometry's priorities as Congress advances a sweeping legislative package, seen by AOA as both an opportunity to secure pro-optometry policies and a potential threat to reimbursement and coverage of optometrist-provided care.

Congressional support for vision benefit manager (VBM) reforms continues to build with the latest bill introduced seeking to rebalance the relationship among plans, patients and their doctors.

The bipartisan Dental and Optometric Care Access (DOC Access) Act takes on the abusive practices by Vision Benefit Managers and seeks rebalance in relationship between plans, patients and their doctors.

Roughly 70% of primary and medical eye care services are provided by VA Optometry, and the new law will help the VA better recruit and retain doctors of optometry to help preserve that level of care.

With a direct message to the U.S. Attorney General, the Oversight Committee set an accelerating pace for a growing number of Capitol Hill and agency inquiries focused on plan abuses.

Tap into the AOA's interactive 2024 elections map to see how hundreds of pro-optometry U.S. House and Senate candidates fared and learn how advocates can get more involved in the fight in our nation's capital for patients and the future of the profession.